PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michail Podolski (ranked 410 p4p, 24 weight class) and Henson Benderson (ranked 1666 p4p, 114 weight class). Podolski's entrance music is Last Ride. A fine choice. Benderson has chosen The Time is Now as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Henson Benderson told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Podolski
vs
Benderson

168 cm
33
148 lbs
25 - 10 - 1

168 cm
34
145 lbs
21 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 10 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michail Podolski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Henson Benderson!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Daniel Blasius and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Podolski ducks under a wild hook from Benderson.
Podolski is looking to counter punch.
Benderson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Podolski tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Podolski throws a lazy uppercut
and Benderson counters with a nice uppercut.
Podolski throws a poor cross that misses
and Benderson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Podolski fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Benderson checks it well.
Podolski feints and then cracks Benderson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Benderson down.
Podolski misses with a jab to the body
and Podolski takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Benderson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Podolski throws a big counter combination but Benderson scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Benderson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Podolski swings widly with a right hand
and Benderson counters with a stiff right hand.
Podolski misses with a wild body shot.
Benderson keeps Podolski at a distance using the push kick.
Podolski clobbers Benderson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benderson finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Podolski avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Podolski throws a looping overhand right but Benderson ducks down to avoid it.
Benderson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Podolski's head backwards.
Benderson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Podolski.
Podolski throws a right hand that misses
and Podolski takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Podolski throws a lazy uppercut
and Benderson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Benderson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Podolski misses with a body shot.
Benderson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Podolski counters with a stiff right hand.

Podolski gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Podolski misses with a punch to the body.
Benderson tries a knee to the head but Podolski blocks it.
Benderson has Podolski pushed against the cage.
Benderson dodges an elbow strike from Podolski.
Podolski softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Podolski lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Podolski lands a shot to the body.
Benderson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Podolski blocks it with crossed arms.
Benderson wants to stall.
Benderson stalling in the clinch but Podolski improves position.

Benderson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Benderson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Podolski.
Podolski scores with a nice strike.
Benderson throws a shot from downtown. Podolski moves away and avoids it.
Benderson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
As Podolski backs off Benderson throws a huge counter combo but Podolski manages to avoid it all.
Benderson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Podolski lands with a thumping leg kick.
Benderson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Podolski connects with a solid leg kick.
Podolski lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Podolski digs a good hook to Benderson's body.
Podolski getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Benderson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benderson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Podolski connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Benderson scrambles back to his feet.
Podolski throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Podolski looks to clinch
and Benderson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Podolski tries to clinch but Benderson moves out of range.
Podolski drops his hands momentarily and Benderson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Podolski misses with a lunging right hand

and Benderson moves into the clinch.
Podolski digs a right hand into Benderson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Benderson's gas tank.
Benderson scores a nice knee to the body.
Benderson stalling in the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Podolski throws an elbow but misses.
Podolski tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benderson stalls.
Podolski lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Benderson or not.
Benderson misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benderson avoids the elbow strike from Podolski, against the cage.
Benderson avoids a wild elbow strike from Podolski.
Benderson dodges an elbow strike from Podolski.
Benderson has Podolski pressed against the cage.
Podolski throws an elbow but it's blocked.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benderson tries to land knees in the clinch but Podolski avoids the damage to the body.
Podolski lands a shoulder strike.
Benderson misses with a knee to the head.
Benderson misses with a punch to the body.
Podolski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Podolski pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Podolski blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Benderson misses with a knee strike.
Podolski throws an elbow but it misses.
Benderson looking to throw knees to the head but Podolski is blocking nicely.
Benderson is trying to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michail Podolski will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Benderson rushes Podolski and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Benderson avoids a wild elbow strike from Podolski.
Podolski misses with a hook from the clinch.
Benderson scores with a hook to the body.
Podolski makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Podolski lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Benderson stalling in the clinch.
Podolski blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Benderson leaning against his opponent.
Benderson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Podolski avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the fighters up against the cage, Podolski throws an elbow but misses.
Podolski misses with a hook to the ribs.
A left hand lands to the body for Podolski.
Podolski throws an elbow but it misses.
Podolski lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Podolski lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Podolski misses with an elbow over the top.
Benderson displaying some good clinch control by pressing Podolski up against the cage.
Podolski lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Podolski lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Podolski lands a left hand that snaps the head of Benderson backwards.
Benderson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Benderson.
Benderson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Benderson missing with knees to the body.
Benderson pressing his opponent against the cage.
Podolski lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Benderson backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benderson blocks the elbow strike.
Knees to the body from Benderson.
Benderson displaying some good clinch control by pressing Podolski up against the cage.
Benderson blocks the elbow strike.
Benderson lands a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benderson utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Benderson avoids a wild elbow strike from Podolski.
Benderson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Podolski takes a knee to the side of the body.
Podolski working aggressively here.
Benderson misses with a knee strike.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Benderson is looking to control Podolski's arms but Podolski gets an underhook and turns him. Now Benderson has his back to the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benderson just leaning against Podolski, taking a breather.
Benderson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Benderson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Podolski has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Benderson avoids a wild elbow strike from Podolski.
Podolski pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Benderson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Podolski avoids it.
Benderson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Podolski blocks it with crossed arms.
Podolski scores with a shot to the side of Benderson's head.
Podolski pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Benderson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Podolski is keeping busy.
Benderson blocks an elbow strike.
Podolski comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Podolski tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Michail Podolski has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Podolski blocks an elbow strike.
Podolski lands a body shot in the clinch.
Benderson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Benderson avoids the elbow strike from Podolski, against the cage.
Podolski lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Podolski lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Podolski.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benderson misses with an elbow over the top.
Podolski scores with a shoulder strike.
Podolski blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Podolski lands with a left to the head.
Benderson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Benderson blocks an elbow strike from Podolski.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Podolski just misses with a elbow thrown towards Benderson's brow.
A right hand to the body from Podolski.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michail Podolski dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Benderson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Podolski.
Podolski thows a body kick. Benderson tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Podolski, as that shot connected.
Podolski connects with a body shot.
Podolski ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Podolski.
Podolski lands an overhand right.
Benderson misses with an uppercut
and Podolski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Podolski lunges at Benderson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Benderson's hand.
Benderson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Podolski punishes Benderson's body with a nice straight punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Podolski looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Benderson throws a counter combo.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Benderson.
Podolski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Benderson counters with a body kick.
Benderson takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Podolski takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Podolski lands a jab.
Podolski throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Benderson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Podolski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Benderson moves away.
Podolski is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Benderson can do to turn this around?
Podolski avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Benderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Podolski moves away.
Benderson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Benderson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Podolski comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Podolski tries to work over Benderson's front leg with a kick but Benderson checks it.
Benderson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Podolski walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Benderson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Podolski throws out a loose jab but Benderson uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Podolski throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Podolski misses with a wild body shot.
Benderson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Podolski.
Podolski throws a low kick but Benderson avoids it.
Podolski moves out of range of the strikes.
Podolski throwing a counter right hand but Benderson manages to avoid it.
Podolski lands a right hook to the body.
Podolski throws a lazy body kick
and Podolski takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Michail Podolski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Podolski. Benderson shrugs it off though.
Podolski scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Podolski gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Benderson looks to land a body kick but Podolski moved away.
Benderson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Michail Podolski is winning the standup battle so far.
Podolski misses with a kick to the body.
Podolski fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Benderson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Podolski throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Podolski thows a left - swing and a miss!
Benderson throws out a counter right but Podolski avoids it with no problem.
Podolski blocks a jab.
A quick step to the side and Podolski tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Podolski throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Podolski swings widly with a right hand
and Benderson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Podolski blocks a head kick by Benderson.
Podolski throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Benderson to counter with a crisp jab.
Podolski just misses with a punch to the body.
Podolski is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Podolski cracks the inside of Benderson's front leg.
Benderson throws a sloppy head kick
and Podolski counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Benderson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Benderson.
Michail Podolski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Podolski drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Podolski tries to land a front kick but Benderson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Benderson only half commits to the counter leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Podolski throws a shot from downtown. Benderson moves away and avoids it.
Podolski lands a right hook to the body.
Podolski throws a leg kick but Benderson moved away.
Benderson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Benderson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Podolski throws out a loose jab but Benderson uses good head movement to avoid it.
A little jabbing left from Benderson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Podolski digs a good hook to Benderson's body.
Henson Benderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Podolski scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Podolski slips a jab and a cross from Benderson.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benderson. Podolski does a little dance to reset his feet.
Podolski throws a quick inside leg kick.
Benderson moves out of range of the body kick from Podolski.
Benderson is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Podolski throws a solid leg kick but Benderson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Podolski.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michail Podolski showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Podolski has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michail Podolski!
A victorious Michail Podolski thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
The defeated Henson Benderson had this to say: 'Damn...'.